Imipramine
Drug Name: Imipramine
Nutritional Considerations
May take medication with food to decrease stomach upset.
- Pronsky, Z Food Medication Interactions, 11th edition, 1999
Limit or avoid caffeine in diet.
- Pronsky, Z Food Medication Interactions, 11th edition, 1999
- Bezchlidnyk, K.Z. : Should psychiatric patients drink coffee? Can. Med. Ass. J. 1981, Feb 15, 124:4.
Vitamin B1, B2 , B6 and Co-Q-10 may need to be supplemented with long term use of the medication.
- Pronsky, Z Food Medication Interactions, 11th edition, 1999
- Kishi T, et al: Inhibition of myocardial respiration by psychotherapeutic drugs and prevention by Coenzyme Q10, Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q10, 1980, 2:139-54
- Bell IR, Edman JS, Morrow FD, et al: Brief communication - Vitamin B1, B2, and B6 augmentation of tricyclic antidepressant treatment in geriatric depression with cognitive function, J Am Coll Nutr, 1992, 11(2):159-63
Avoid alcohol
- Pronsky, Z Food Medication Interactions, 11th edition, 1999
- Hudson CJ: Tricyclic antidepressants and alcoholic blackouts. J Nerv Ment Dis 1981; 169:381.
- Facts and Comparisons, Clinisphere 2.0, Wolters Kluwer Company, 2000
There may be an increase in apetite, particularly for sweets.
- Pronsky, Z Food Medication Interactions, 11th edition, 1999
- Paykel ES, Mueller PS & De la Vergne PM: Amitriptyline, weight gain and carbohydrate craving: a side effect. Br J Psychiatry 1973; 123:501.
Herbal Considerations
Tricyclic antidepressants may display additive anticholinergic effects with Thorn apple, (Jimsen weed).
- Facts and Comparisons, Clinisphere 2.0, Wolters Kluwer Company, 2000
- Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Tobacco speeds the elimination of tricyclic antidepressants.
- Brinker, F Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998
Tricyclic antidepressants and SAMe may interact to increase serotonergic side effects.
- Berlanga C, et al. "Efficacy of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in speeding the onset of action of imipramine." Psychiatry Res, 1992; 44(3):257-62.
- Iruela LM, et al. Toxic interaction of S-adenosylmethionine and clomipramine. Am J Psych 1993; 150:522.
Hypertension may occur with yohimbe and tricyclic antidepressants e.g. Imipramine
- Brinker, F Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998
Tricyclic antidepressants may decrease the effectiveness of Indian Snakeroot.
- McKevoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
The German Commission E has noted an interaction or possibility of an interaction between tricyclic antidepressants and these herbs: Belladonna leaf and root , Henbane leaf, Kava Kava, Scopolia root
- Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
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